Queens cop-killer Demetrius Blackwell was slammed Tuesday with the maximum prison sentence — life without parole — for the first-degree murder of NYPD Detective Brian Moore.
Blackwell, 37, was convicted of fatally shooting the 25-year-old officer in the head while Moore was on patrol with his partner in May 2015.
“Mr. Blackwell, you’re nothing but a coward,” Queens County Criminal Court Judge Gregory Lasak seethed. “You’re a cold, calculating killer.
“I’ll make it simple for you: You’re gonna die in prison. You’ll never breathe outside the confines of a New York state prison.”
Sporting tan prison scrubs, Blackwell tilted his head and showed little emotion — irking the judge.
“Get his smirking face out of this courthouse,” Lasak fumed after handing down the sentence.
Outside the courthouse, Moore’s father, Raymond, said the cop-killer deserves to die.
“If New York state had the death penalty, I’d love to see this animal put down once and for all,” the former NYPD sergeant raged.
Over the course of the three-week trial, Moore’s partner, Erik Jansen, testified that Blackwell opened fire on them when Moore called him out for adjusting his waistband.
Moore asked Blackwell if he was packing a gun, and “[Blackwell] said, ‘Yeah, I got something!’ and he turned right towards the car and shot Brian,” Jansen testified.
Moore died two days later at Jamaica Hospital.
Blackwell’s lawyer, David Bart, argued that Blackwell suffered from mind-altering seizures that left him not responsible for his actions.
“[The shooting] was not done with any evil intent,” Bart told the judge before the sentencing. “One of the shots was a ricochet.”
Blackwell was also found guilty of attempted murder for firing at Jansen and sentenced to a second term of life in prison for the crime.
“It goes without question that the defendant’s actions were a direct attack on our society and the law and soberly reminds us of the unseen dangers that our police officers face each day — and the ultimate sacrifice they may be called upon to make — as they carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve our communities,” Queens DA Richard Brown said in a statement.
“Justly, the person responsible for causing so much pain and suffering must be punished for his criminal actions for the greater good and protection of society,” he said.
“Today, I am confident that the ends of justice have been served.”